Throughout United States History rights have been limited to many people. Multiple people have struggled with this and it is still a major problem today. Because of the defiance of basic rights, women struggled within their everyday lives. Women do not have the same rights and opportunities as men, and this is still a major issue today. Women being drawn back from simple rights caused many complications within the country because it did not flourish as well as it could have. Many women and children started out illiterate and had an extremely tough time with learning and reading. This became another major problem for women to gain rights because they were not able to express their ideas naturally and have a voice. Women began to gain a voice when Fanny Wright a public speaker, became the first to speak to an audience of both genders. During this time, women speaking in front of men was unimaginable and very unlikely to happen. Because of this it caused women to find their voices in a political nature. Also, many co-educational schools began to open causing another improvement for the beginning of women’s rights. New York City gave married women the right to be the owner of their earnings. This was a huge accomplishment for women and was another positive for the growth of women’s rights. Then, Massachusetts and Colorado gave women the right to vote and again this was a huge growth improvement for women.
In the early years of The Revolutionary Era and the New Nation, many Americans were suffering from post war depression and the raising of taxes. During this time period, many foundations were created and then later on ratified. During the new nation, George Washington was elected The President of the United States. This election caused for new laws and for some people new worries because it was a big change for the people of the new nation and for some of the citizens that was very scary to them. During this era, Women especially had a tough time with working and learning. Men had a lot more rights than Women during the new nation and still even today. Many women struggled with being treated well and were always taken for granted because men only saw them as their maids just to take care of their children and do all the housework.
A great example of this would be when Abigail Adams wrote John Adams (her husband) saying “remember the ladies”(Wayne 19). This proves that she wants equality for all people not just women but for all human beings. Women should have equal rights and the same opportunities as men do. Just because men think cleaning and cooking is what women are “supposed to do” it still does not make it right or justified for women to have little or no rights at all. During this time women and children were severely illiterate and unable to learn (Crest 15). Because of this, it made it even harder for women to not only teach their children but to have a voice in society because they never got their point across to the political life. Because of their illiterate abilities, women could never have a career within politics and made it more difficult to gain rights.
In the early years of Antebellum America many political, social, economic problems changed majorly throughout the country. Some education opportunities began to be available for the middle class people. This was a huge accomplishment for the growth of women and women’s rights. Even though education became open to women, they still did not have the same opportunities as men. Men still considered themselves a superior and that women should continue to be the stay at home parent.
For example, when the attempt was made for women to have equal say in children custody and equal say in speeches, it never worked out and was always pushed away (Martin 1). Many speakers in the house never gave any thought or care for women to have the same rights as men and they always showed no concerns to the problem. Because of this, it downgraded women more and more and made them feel unimportant which is the last thing women needed during this time period. Many people assumed “that women members would disrupt the intensely male character of the institution” (Martin 1). Because women were always downgraded, it continued to make them feel less and less important throughout society.
During the early years of The Civil War and Reconstruction post war building began and many difficult challenges were faced. The reconstruction era was an “experiment” to test different political styles within the country. The civil war caused the ratification of a few of the amendments and created new laws for the citizens of America. Some improvements were made within women’s rights and many women began to find their voices in the the political lifestyle. Also, multiple laws were passed that would greatly help women succeed within their everyday lives and make them stronger.
For example, New York City developed a brand new right to women saying that married women will now have the right to be the owner of their earnings (Wayne 20). Many women began to get an education and began to say what was on their minds in the political world (Crest). Most women had believed that receiving an education is the most important thing for any human to get. Also, many people thought that having equal rights was helping and improving the daily lives and opportunities of everyday Americans (Miller 13). Because Women have been receiving education and people were beginning to believe that women having equal rights, the country will be able to be more advanced.
In the early years of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era politics became intense and changed political parties very often. Many people became furious with the politicians because the elections that took place were not good for the country. Many of the electors had very weak opinions and did not have strong political views. Even though president-elects did not have strong opinions, women did.
For example, Women “argued that they were american citizens and are entitled to the right to vote” (Sicius 26). Some of the times, women were treated, “unequally in families, education, the workplace, and society” but that never stopped women from being strong and independant (Reese 1). Many states began to give women the right to vote in the country’s elections and women became stronger than ever. Being able to vote and be given more rights was a huge progression towards equality and the country can begin to flourish and grow. Because of the unequal treatment of women, it made them strong and work toward their goals of becoming an equal world.
Even though Women suffered many obstacles and challenges they are beginning to gain equal rights and the country will begin to grow more and more. Without the challenges women have faced this country would not be where it is today without all of their amazing accomplishments and some of their setbacks. But without setbacks, America could be a completely different country today. Women will always work towards gaining rights and it will continue to help the world progress.